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Gillian Lynne

Michael Berkeley's guest is choreographer Gillian Lynne, whose musical choices include Faure, Walton, Vaughan Williams, Tippett and Errol Garner.

Gillian Lynne is best known as the choreographer of Cats and Phantom of the Opera, among other West End hits. She received a lifetime Olivier Award earlier this year. But her career began more than seven decades ago, when she was spotted as a dancer by Ninette de Valois. She danced during the War, with doodlebugs falling around her and just two pianos in the pit - no orchestras, as all the men were away fighting. She danced in the first night at Covent Garden after the War, when audiences dusted off their evening clothes. She then moved into movies, playing a gypsy temptress in The Master of Ballantrae opposite Errol Flynn. The sexual chemistry wasn't confined to the screen - she and Flynn had an affair, though his drink problem meant 'He wasn't a great lover. At the end of the day, he couldn't... But he was a beautiful man.'

As she developed as a choreographer, Gillian Lynne worked with the leading composers of the day, including Sir Michael Tippett. In fact she asked him to make changes in his Ritual Dances (from The Midsummer Marriage) so it would become a bit clearer what on earth was going on. 'I said to Colin Davis, I don't know what this is about. But I think it's about orgasms. He said, "Quite right, dear girl. Quite right!"'

Now 87, Lynne talks frankly about her career, and people she has worked with, like Frederick Ashton and Dudley Moore. She is still working - 'If I didn't I'd keel over' - and thanks to her daily workout, she is still enviably fit. She tells the story of finding love for the first time when she was in her 50s - with a man 27 years younger than herself. She's naughty, irreverent, and fun; this is also priceless social history.

Music choices include Fauré, Walton, Vaughan Williams, Tippett and Errol Garner.

First broadcast in September 2013.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 14 Sep 2014 12:00

Music Played

  • Gene de Paul

    I'll Remember April

    Performer: Erroll Garner.
  • César Franck

    Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra (excerpt)

    Performer: Pascal Rogé. Orchestra: London Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Ross Pople.
  • William Walton

    Near the Palace of Pride (The Quest)

    Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones. Orchestra: Orchestra of Opera North.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Satan's Dance of Triumph (Job: A Masque for Dancing)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
  • Richard Addinsell

    Warsaw Concerto (excerpt)

    Performer: Martin Roscoe. Orchestra: ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Philharmonic. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
  • Michael Tippett

    Fire in Summer (Ritual Dances from The Midsummer Marriage)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Orchestra: Colin Davis.
  • John Kander

    Why Should I Wake Up? (Cabaret)

    Singer: Peter Land.
  • Gabriel Fauré

    Violin Sonata No.1 in A major, Op.13 (1st mvt: Allegro molto, excerpt)

    Performer: Susan Tomes. Performer: Krysia Osostowicz.
  • Gabriel Fauré

    Violin Sonata No.1 in A major, Op.13 (1st mvt: Allegro molto, excerpt)

    Performer: Susan Tomes. Performer: Krysia Osostowicz.
  • Richard Addinsell

    Warsaw Concerto (excerpt)

    Performer: Martin Roscoe. Orchestra: ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Philharmonic. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Satan's Dance of Triumph (Job: A Masque for Dancing)

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
  • William Walton

    Near the Palace of Pride (The Quest)

    Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones. Orchestra: Orchestra of Opera North.
  • César Franck

    Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra (excerpt)

    Performer: Pascal Rogé. Orchestra: London Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Ross Pople.
  • Gene de Paul

    I'll Remember April

    Performer: Erroll Garner.
  • Michael Tippett

    Fire in Summer (Ritual Dances from The Midsummer Marriage)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Orchestra: Colin Davis.
  • John Kander

    Why Should I Wake Up? (Cabaret)

    Singer: Peter Land.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 1 Sep 2013 12:00
  • Sun 14 Sep 2014 12:00

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